Come on in. You surely won’t be disappointed. Mega thanks to reader Susan for spotting today’s mid century marvel time capsule house in Dallas, Texas. The original owner was an architect and builder — and oh my goodness, it shows! 25 specatularicious photos –>
Thanks also to realtors Hewitt & Habgood for permission to feature these fabulous photos. Above: Love how the brick column toward the left transforms to become a planter at the front and even wraps around the L to the right of the door. This architectural design detail appears to be totally cosmetic (although the eaves may have required support) — a wonderful idea to “break up” the long horizontal of the front facade. No, not wonderful: Brilliant.
Hewitt & Habgood’s super nice marketing director Kenton (awesome website, awesome photos, well done, Kenton!) told me that everyone at the agency was in awe of this house, and he got right over to take these photos. Note the awning windows discussed in detail here recently.
The house is a ranch style beauty, built in 1950, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 3,630 s.f. (tax records). Here is what the real estate description says:
Rare, vintage Mid-Century Modern estate on .55 acres in exceptional original condition with great architectural details. Gracious formals & interiors with sophistication indicative of time period. Enjoy expansive picture windows, gorgeous views of grounds, large bedrooms — each with bath access, great vintage kitchen & breakfast, two fireplaces, hidden wet bar, folding walls, separate guest quarters, basement & secret entrance to fourth bedroom-office make this very special home a must see. If you appreciate the quality and details from the 1950’s MCM architecture, you’ll love this home. Original owner was an architect and builder, and current owner has had for 40+ years and maintained and cared for it beautifully. Great oversized vegetable garden for the enthusiast. Don’t miss out on this one!
Lots of photos so here they come, along with more Pammentary:
The white brick = more stunning than words can describe. Does anyone know what name to give this brick? Love the built-in planter, love the wall of mirrors, love the crystal chandelier.
To the right (and visible in other photos, above): A focus wall of wallpaper — matches the wallpaper in the foyer. Again: Brilliant.
Pinch pleats over sheer pinch pleats Rock My World. This is The Way It Is Done.
Pretty view from the living room to the back yard.
Note: This is an excellent reference for what a kitchen looks like when you wallpaper just the soffit. That’s laminate on the counters and backsplash.
The bedrooms all appear to be good sizes (this is a large house for 1950 for sure). If the carpet were in good shape, I would keep every inch of it!
Lots of single-focus walls done in a probably high-grade plywood (?)
Super delicious: Gray bathroom with pink tile countertops. I love the sliding cosmetic cabinets under the mirros — and I love how the Hollywood vanity lights are installed upside down from the soffit. Also notice: The decorative screening, instead of a solid wall, between the tub area in the back and this toilet area in the front. I wonder if this is a Jack ‘n Jill bathroom?
Dressing area. Lovely handling of the windows above. Vanity cube lights mounted from side.
Another favorite feature: That wall behind the bed looks to be upholstered. With padding and everything. You Can Do This!
Beautiful patio. Notice the detail within the brickwork on the left edge of the house as it turns the corner — the square peepholes.
Round concrete patio. Great way to break up the sharp edges of the house.
The eaves — if that’s what you call them — fantastic. And here, you can see further detail of the built-in brick planter-to column roof support design at the front. Brick carried to entrance way step.
This house is perfection.
Link love:
- Listing information for 1950 mid century modern house in Dallas.
- Thanks to Hewitt & Habgood Realty in Dallas.
Heather says
@natalie, I went to the open house and confirm that the grey and pink bathroom is a jack-and-jill. The other bathroom that is divided into a powder room (hall access) and bath area (bedroom access), with a door between them, and the office has a half-bath.
Other neat features: there is a skinny secret hallway connecting the front bedroom to the office (which also has a separate entrance for clients to the right of the main front door); the wet bar in the family room does have a lift-up top and the interior is laminated in bright yellow cracked ice Formica (also featured in the HUGE laundry room); the family room has a mosaic tile floor under the wall-to-wall, and that back wall of sliding doors opens all the way (it must have had more of a sunroom feeling originally); there is also a separate studio apartment around the back of the property. It also has a large basement, very unusual in Dallas.
The property is in fantastic condition. It’s in a beautiful part of Dallas, near the hipster quarter (yes, it exists) a 10 minute commute to downtown. Someone please buy this house! There’s another time-capsule house, perfect-o 1978, a few minutes away at 1616 Rio Vista.
Craig B says
I believe the bricks used for the fireplace, etc. are called Roman bricks. At least that’s what they were called back when I was a kid living in a much uncooler MCM (in our case, midcentury mundane) house than this one.
natalie says
BEAUTIFUL!! i love all the little details.
the listing says each bedroom has bath access and if there’s only 2 baths, i’m willing to bet at least one of those is a jack n jill!
does anyone know what to call those sliding door cabinets underneath the mirror in the bathroom? i want one but i never know what to search.
is that a plugged in light up mirror in one of the bedrooms?
Lisa says
I love those mirrors with the sliding door cabinets too! You can get them from Nutone, and in my area I can special order them through the local Home Depot. If you go to the Nutone web site, it is under medicine cabinets, specialty, and it’s called the Commodore. It comes in several different sizes. You can order the little cabinets by themselves or as a mirror/cabinet combo.
I’m putting them in both my tiled bathrooms in my 1958 ranch, to match the Nutone ceiling heater that came with the house. An authentic retro touch.
natalie says
cool! thanks for the tip!
Lisa says
Look! – Pam already had an article about Nutone on the site. It has some photos and links to the web sites.
https://retrorenovation.com/2009/03/04/where-can-i-buy-a-vintage-style-medicine-cabinet/
pam kueber says
Thanks for helping out, Lisa!
Lisa Hildebrand says
Found another possible source of the Nutone mirror with cosmetic box while looking for parts to repair my vintage Nutone bathroom heater. This website appears to sell parts to repair Nutone products. And the vintage style bathroom cabinets they offer have prices listed, so at least you can see what you are getting into if you decide to pursue one. The site also has the original product parts lists for the vintage products – I’ve already printed out mine for my Nutone Model 920 heater!
http://www.rienterprisethesource.com/product-p/j1645p48chx.htm
Lisa
pam kueber says
Thanks, Lisa! We’ve written about R&I before in conjunction with their fixit services for Nutone intercoms and such…Good to know about this, as well!
DebDeluxe says
Be still, my beating heart!
George says
$519.000? Let’s get one in every color!
Marcie says
I love this house! I want, I want.
Lee in Florida says
Lurve!
Anna S. Bannana says
This really seems ahead of it’s time for 1950. I vvould have guessed 60s to 68. Elegant, and so, so pretty.
Eric says
It appears that there were updates in the 60’s.
Sherri says
WOW!!!
Lauryn says
LOVE THIS!!!!!